Rob
Here is a pic of what I did with the vent on my 284. I just realized in that last post where I described it, that I said I put the new vent between the forward seat mounts when I actually put it between the REAR seat mounts /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif. I drilled a hole till it just broke thru into the top of the resovoir then tapped it to 1/4" NPT. This is about the highest point on the resovoir and several inches forward and above the original vent location on the filler plug. I have tested it by cycling the loader with the front of the tractor well up on a bank(higher than I have ever had it in normal operations). I was unable to get any fluid to come out the new vent location.
I had been working on a different filter arrangement so I finished and installed it this evening before I took the pic. I used to have the filter on the back of the seat with a hose connecting the filter to the vent. Now this home made filter/dehydrator screws right into the new vent location. It consists of a Napa 23001 fuel filter($1.89) with the carbburetor end hose barb removed and a 1/4" NPT nylon fitting($.98) glued in it's place. The other end is filled with small bead silica gel indicating dessicant. It is dark indigo blue when dry and as it absorbs moisture from the air being drawn through it, it turns pink(blue is new, pink is poo). On the upper hose barb is a long 1/4" rubber vacume line cap(few cents at Napa) with a few small holes drilled in it to pass air but keep debris from falling directly down the hose barb and into the filter. The filter material keeps the beads of silica gel from entering the resovoir. This should keep the air in the resovoir dry and cut down on internal condensation that will contaminate the hydraulic oil. The dessicant can be revived by shaking it out of the filter and cooking the moisture out of it in the microwave(can't nuke the whole assembly as the internal filter element has metal end caps).
I cut the square cap off the top of the original vent/filler cap and unscrewed the dipstick from the inside. I cut a 3" long 1/2" pipe nipple at a 45 degree angle then welded it to form a short 90 degree elbow. I cut the threads off one end and welded it where the square top used to be on the original filler cap. I made it a little too long as right now I can't unscrew it with the male QC installed without hitting the bracket that holds the toplink storage hook(to be fixed soon). I am giving up the dipstick with this mod but I can easilly see the fluid level down that large hole when the cap is unscrewed.
This was the easiest way I could figure to install a hydraulic return without doing too many major mods to the case/resovoir. This mod is paveing the way for a portable/temporary return line filter package that I am putting together. It will connect to the "dump trailer" hydraulic supply QC and this return QC fitting so I can filter the hydraulic fluid down to 10 microns whenever I am not using the 3PH.
